Ep. 290: This is Everything: Why I'll Never Move to a Red State (Even for Family)

What this episode covers

This "This Is Everything" segment finds Zach turning inward after a string of anti-LGBTQ+ news alerts hit his phone during a night out — the kind of moment that reminds him how much he takes his own safety for granted living in Massachusetts. He traces that feeling back to a real conversation happening in his own family: his brother, who lives in a red state, and husband Andrew have both floated the idea of relocating — whether to be closer to family or to escape New England's housing costs. Zach walks through why every version of that plan is off the table for him, from a Midwestern state with active anti-trans and anti-gay-marriage legislation, to New Hampshire towns that look charming on paper but read differently once you're driving past Trump signs or dealing with an out-of-control bike week. Along the way, he widens the lens — talking about growing up in a genuinely diverse Miami, noticing an unexpected kind of quiet segregation in his own Massachusetts neighborhood, and reflecting on a viral video about how racism is taught rather than innate. He connects all of this to the bigger picture: over 700 anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced in the first half of 2026, transgender driver's licenses revoked overnight in red states, and his frustration that so much political energy goes toward targeting a small population instead of addressing bigger national problems. He closes by naming exactly what he needs to feel safe and at home — proximity to a major airport, direct flights, next-day delivery, access to his skincare routine, and above all, a state where his marriage and his community aren't up for debate — landing on why Massachusetts, imperfect as it is, is where he's staying.

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